Right,
I hope you've all now recovered from the excesses of Christmas and the
New Year and are waiting with bated breath for the first issue of '98 of
everyone's favourite bed-time read S.K.O.H.!
For any new readers out there, the newsletter service is free on receipt
of a S.A.E. or I.R.C. and is issued quarterly (or thereabouts).
Thanks to everyone who have sent photos, press cuttings etc. etc. or even
just kind comments throughout the last twelve months.
Unfortunately, due to technical problems beyond anyone's control, the promised
features on Norman's and Sav's careers have been delayed - hey, it wouldn't
be S.K.O.H. if things ran smoothly! Hopefully next issue. Which by the
way will be available in April. There's also no further news on the proposed
album release although now everyone's back at work after the holidays,
things should progress.
On the live front, there's plenty of dates around the country hope you
get to see the band at one of them. Sav recently got married (I'm sure
we all wish him and his wife 'All The Best') and Steve Monti (from the
Blockheads) deputised for him at the Putney Half Moon gig in December as
he was away on honeymoon. Photos from this gig appearing by kind permission
of Ron Bartlett (Photos
in printed issue only! Gabi).

Anyone
searching for, the bands backcatalogue will be interested to know that
'Revolution' (P.O. Box 4545, Milton Keynes, MK88ZS, UK) do have listed
in their latest catalogue the Japanese release of 'Don't Let Your Daddy
Know' as well as the 'London Session vols 1& 2' CDs by Makoto Ayukawa
- write with a S.A.E. for details! (Alan Grundy, 11 Darley Avenue,
Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 7RU, England)I have also managed to track down a VERY limited number of the 'Call
It What You Want' CD which features live tracks from the current band and
various studio tracks. Anyone interested should drop me a line at the newsletter
address and I'll put all the names in 'the hat'. The cost is £ 12.00
in the UK, add a couple of extra quid for postage anywhere else.
The recording in Sweden for the compilation C.D. mentioned last issue didn't
actually take place due to a complicated tale involving a mad Swede and
a smelly dog - the full story of which will probably come out when Wilko
writes his auto-biography!

I am frequently
asked for information about other bands. The Pirates have a retrospective
double CD just out, 'Out Of Their Skulls' West Side Records WESD 201 -
which features virtually all the tracks from their first three albums with
the 'classic' line-up. The package is sequenced to give a 'studio' disc
and a 'live' disc the latter adding some 'rarities' and unreleased stuff.

Another
artist who is (perhaps) surprisingly prominent in enquiries is Eric Goulden
(Wreckless Eric as was) and as a long-time fan myself, I managed to track
him down and was pleased to find that he has recently released a CD on
his own record label - 'Karaoke' on 'Silo' records which is available by
mail-order. The CD is billed as 'half an album for half the price of an
album' and is a bit of a bargain at only £ 6.00/ 60 French francs/
18 German marks, cash, cheques or money orders payable to Eric Goulden
c/o 'Silo', 1, Rue du Cormier, 28270 Laons, France. The price includes
postage in the U.K. & Europe, add a couple of quid for elsewhere. This
quirky little nugget may come as a surprise to anyone unfamiliar with Eric's
work post Stiff records but it completes a trio of excellent recent releases
from one of Britain's (or France's now) most under-rated song writers.
There is hope of some U.K. dates later this year and hopefully I'll be
able to furnish details. Until then, check out the Eric feature this issue
including Website details (Note by Gabi: In printed issue only!
But there is a link to the Eric Goulden a.k.a. Wreckless Eric Website at
my "Music Links" page.)

I've been
offered a number of copies of the 'All Night Garage Service' LP which of
course features a Wilko track, without the original sleeves and am toying
with the idea of offering them with an issue of S.K.O.H. The price including
postage etc. and of course an issue of S.K.O.H. shouldn't exceed a fiver
so what do you think?
Feedback would be much appreciated.

Aprils
issue of S.K.O.H. should include an up date on the discography so if you've
got any additions, let me have them with your S.A.E.!

PIRATES:
Out Of Their Skulls - Westside WESD 201

(Review
by SID GRIFFIN in "Q" February 1998)

70s
compilation from band who first formed in 1959 to back Johnny Kidd.

Nearly two-and-a-half
hours of madman rockin' music from the late Johnny Kidd's backing band,
dating from their successful resurrection in 1976 at the behest to faithful
disciple Wilko Johnson. Including all three reunion albums as well as several
rare singles and previously unissued material, this is ear-opening stuff
for the most part. A generation older than their punk contemporaries, legendary
Mick Green and his men make most of that breed sound like pretenders. Listen
to All In It Together and you hear a great single. Listen to Please Don't
Touch or Something Very Strange and you hear where Dr Feelgood got their
act. Though bassist Johnny Spence's vocals sometimes flirt with blackface
this is largely ace stuff, perfect to accompany that sixth pint. **

BACK IN THE PRESS

WILKO SIGNS

The Wilko
Johnson Band this week inked a long-term recording contract with Virgin
Records. A single from the band will be released shortly, and material
for their debut album is currently under consideration. The band - comprising
the ex-Feelgood guitarist and vocalist Wilko Johnson, John Potter (piano
and vocals), Alan Platt (drums) and Stevie Lewins (bass) - are likely to
be playing a series of one-nighters in the near future with a major tour
being considered for May.

(Out
of Record Mirror? - March 1978)

PARTS OF THIS ISSUE

Included
was a Wilko report out of Record Mirror, February 25, 1978 and an
Wilko interview of Zig Zag Magazine, Issue 83, April/May 1978 will maybe become published at the Wilko Special Pages (if I
can force me to type it out).